At 18.11 GMT last night, the Swiss Bernard Stamm abandoned the Vendée Globe. Previously, the Failure of both hydrogenerators the power supply collapsed. In the afternoon, Stamm had taken 30 litres of diesel for the diesel generator from his friend and former competitor, the Basque Unai Basurko, just off the coast of Cape Horn. Basurko was in the area with the expedition yacht "Pakea Bizcaia".
Stamm has been sailing without an autopilot in cold and difficult conditions since Sunday. He had only slept for five hours during this time. He was completely exhausted at the handover.
However, by taking on the fuel, Stamm was in breach of a race rule that prohibits outside help during the race. As soon as the batteries were recharged, the Swiss informed the race organisers of his abandonment. He will now continue the circumnavigation to Les Sables d'Olonne, but outside the classification.
It was Stamm's third unsuccessful attempt to sail to the finish of the Vendée Globe. In 2000/01 he had to retire before the start due to technical problems, and in 2008/09 he suffered a broken rudder.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
